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Read Full Khufiya Movie Review –
Tabu‘s latest release, Khufiya – streaming now on Netflix – is a multi-layered espionage thriller with a solid performance by its powerful cast that is intriguing in bits and parts.
Director: Vishal Bharadwaj
Cast: Tabu, Ali Fazal, Wamiqa Gabbi, Ashish Vidyarthi, Atul Kulkarni
Duration: 2 Hours 37 Mins
Rating: 3/5
Plotline:
Krishna Mehra aka KM (played by Tabu), an officer with Research & Analysis Wing (RAW), leads an espionage operation to prevent Brigadiar Mirza from taking over Dhaka. Heena Rahman (played by Bangladeshi actress Azmeri Haque Badhon) offers to become an undercover spy for the deadly mission. However, Mirza gets informed about the plan and kills Heena.
KM and her boss Jeev (played by Ashish Vidyarthi) find out their that Ravi Mohan (played by Ali Fazal) is a mole in the agency selling India’s highly classified documents to the CIA.
On the other hand, Ravi is a happily married man with his wife Chaaru (played by Wamiqa Gabbi) and their son.
Is Ravi at fault? Does Chaaru really help her husband to leak the nation’s secrets? Watch Khufiya on Netflix to know what happens next…
Khufiya Movie Review; WHAT Do We Think?
Vishal Bharadwaj’s Khufiya is based on Amar Bhushan’s espionage novel Escape to Nowhere. For the unversed, Amar Bhushan is the former chief of the counter-espionage unit of India.
The espionage-thriller film is thrilling but in bits and pieces. From the sexual angle to the dark world of spies, the political tension, multiple narratives are taking place at the same time. Bharadwaj has depicted the LGBTQ angle in a very matured way.
The best thing about Vishal Bharadwaj’s movies is his women. Tabu, Wamiqa Gabbi and the other female actresses were powerful. They have added to the narrative with their terrific performances. All three of the leading actors, Tabu, Wamiqa and Ali, shine in their respective characters.
Tabu delivers a memorable performance, as usual, in this Vishal Bharadwaj directorial. She has played her part well as a workaholic woman who wants to be there for her 19-year-old son, but fails. She is a tough nut to crack but is sensible at her job. Sometimes she is a strong woman and can be fragile at times.
After Jubilee and Charlie Chopra & The Mystery of Solang Valley, Wamiqa Gabbi wins hearts with her stellar performance in Khufiya. From her expressions to her eyes and moves, Wamiqa has played her character with perfection. She is vulnerable and strong at the same time.
Azmeri made her presence felt with her limited screentime and added to the narrative of the film.
Ali Fazal is credible to his grey character Ravi. However, we wished more of him in this film. On the other hand, Ashishi Vidyarthi and Atul Kulkarni do well in their parts.
While the initial portions of Khufiya move at a fast pace and keeps you hooked, the second half lags a bit, loosing its grip. The duration could have also been cut short.
HIT Or MISS?
Vishal Bharadwaj & Tabu’s combination never disappoints. However, the film is not one of their best works. On the whole, Khufiya is a one-time watch for its stellar performances.
